US EditionIsrael closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and set off a Holy Week firestorm
Israeli authorities cited safety concerns as they limited gatherings to 50 people and closed major holy sites after Iranian missile attacks.
- On Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, Israeli police turned away Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, sparking immediate international outcry over the denial of access to the sacred site.
- Heightened security restrictions related to Israel's war with Iran necessitated limiting public gatherings to 50 people at all Old City holy sites, including the Western Wall and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Iranian missile attacks had targeted the area.
- Critics noted that while gathering limits applied uniformly across religious sites, the Church lacked a bomb shelter, complicating safety protocols for large congregations during Holy Week observances.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office apologized, stating there was "no malicious intent whatsoever," while President Isaac Herzog expressed "great sorrow" and reaffirmed Israel's commitment to religious freedom at holy sites.
- Authorities are developing a plan to provide clergy limited access for the remainder of Holy Week, aiming to balance security requirements with the symbolic importance of these celebrations.
15 Articles
15 Articles
After the ban imposed by the Israeli Palm Sunday police, the cardinal returns to the basilica
Israel closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and set off a Holy Week firestorm
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians, the lead-up to Easter, when Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Usually, it’s observed in large services with liturgical readings, where palm leaves are distributed to parishioners to commemorate the day that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. But this Holy Week, that wasn’t possible due to the war in Iran, which has limited gatherings in Israel due to saf…
White House Press Secretary Responds to Pope’s War Remarks, Welcomes Efforts to Reopen Holy Sepulchre
Karoline Leavitt addressed recent remarks by Pope Leo XIV on Monday, responding to the pontiff’s criticism of war while also commenting on a diplomatic dispute involving access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Palm Sunday.
At a joint press conference, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land reaffirmed, after the events of ...
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